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Project duration: LIH 2023-2025 and LIH2 2026-2028

Coordinator: Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI)

Partners: https://locationinnovationhub.eu/en/partners/

Funding: European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH)

Project website: https://locationinnovationhub.eu/en/home/

 

Location Innovation Hub (LIH and LIH2)

General project introduction

The University of Turku (UTU) team in the LIH project helps turn location-based data and technologies into practical innovations that support business growth and discoveries of innovative solutions with sustainability impacts. We focus on supporting businesses based on the wide utilisation of global and local open geospatial data, digital tools, and location technologies by companies, public organisations, and communities.

Our core expertise includes:

  • Geospatial applications – using maps, EO data, participatory mapping data, and other location-based information to understand places, people, and integrated human-nature systems. Our core applied expertise is on urbanisation, green transition, biodiversity, and digital twins on water.
  • Open geospatial data and digital technologies – finding, combining, and applying open data sources to create new digital services, products, and insights.
  • Applied GeoAI methods – using artificial intelligence and machine learning together with location data to automate analysis and support smarter decisions, particularly EO and other geospatial data and spatio-temporal analysis
  • Innovation mentoring and coaching – helping SMEs and other partners turn ideas into pilots and solutions through challenge camps, workshops, and hands-on guidance.

The UTU core team for LIH brings together specialists from the Department of Geography and Geology (Faculty of Science) and the Department of Computing (Faculty of Technology), and the core project activities are:

  • Geospatial Challenge Camp (GCC)
  • Unlocking Growth in Africa webinar series and guide
  • Chat with a Pro service
  • Regional innovation and networking events.

 

LIH Project Activities at UTU
1. Geospatial Challenge Camp (GCC)

Geospatial Challenge Camp (GCC) is a challenge-based course that aims to engage young scientists and students to solve real-world sustainability challenges with digital data and location technologies. The course is a skills development and innovation service of Geoportti Research Infrastructure, the Location Innovation Hub, Finnish universities, and CSC - IT Center for Science.

GCC is a 10 to 13-week-long challenge-based course (5 ECTS) that aims to provide participants a chance to tackle relevant real-world challenges in cross-disciplinary teams. GCC has been organized by Geoportti RI, LIH, UTU, Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and CSC during 2023, 2025, and 2026. The overall themes for the camp vary yearly; previous themes include, for example, Health and Well-Being and Sustainable Transportation and Mobility. The participants are doctoral and post-doctoral researchers and master's students from Finnish universities and research organizations.

During the camp, the multi-disciplinary teams of young scientists work in close collaboration with industry to co-create digital innovative solutions for solving societal challenges. Teams identify and analyse complex location and time related phenomena, and then design and build digital impact-driven solutions, which would improve the current know-how and capabilities of managing these problems in the society. The teams work actively with their peers, mentors and stakeholders during the course, and focus on designing geospatial data and digital technology solutions, which could have sustainability impacts for the users of the solution and for the society at large.

Websites and news pieces about GCC
Kick-off event of Geospatial Challenge Camp 2025 gathered participants and stakeholders together to brainstor location-based solutions for health and well-being
Kick-off event of Geospatial Challenge Camp 2025 gathered participants and stakeholders together to brainstor location-based solutions for health and well-being
2. “Unlocking Growth in Africa - Geospatial & Tech Business Opportunities in Emerging Markets” Webinar Series and Guide

This webinar series is building on the long-standing cooperation that UTU has had in the Global South, namely in Tanzania. We wanted to create a webinar series that would address the rapidly growing African and Sub-Saharan geospatial market, which presents exciting new opportunities for Finnish and Nordic SMEs. This webinar series exemplifies how emerging markets are integrating advanced geospatial data, Earth Observation, and AI to tackle critical challenges in agriculture, urban planning, disaster resilience, and more.

The webinar series is planned to equip one with the knowledge and connections needed to tap into this dynamic, growing region. Additionally, the series hopes to empower SMEs by demystifying the dynamics of the geospatial business ecosystem in the Global South. You can learn about real-world use cases, understand the local business environment, and discover how to partner with local actors, NGOs, and funders. Understanding the nuances of the local socio-cultural frameworks and how to navigate the innovation and business ecosystems effectively are crucial factors when entering a new market.

This webinar series will help SMEs navigate the geospatial business landscape in the emerging markets by providing:

  • Insights into local market dynamics and funding opportunities
  • Real-world examples of geospatial data and technology applications
  • Practical guidance on cultural and business frameworks for successful collaboration
Webinar session speakers and titles
  • Session 1: Jumanne Mtambalike, Sahara Ventures - “Geospatial Opportunities - Navigating Collaboration Between Europe and Africa”
  • Session 2: Edward Anderson, World Bank - “Geospatial Tech Innovations and Opportunities - Climate and Disaster Risk Management in Sub-Saharan Africa” and Alex Chunet, European Space Agency - “ESA Earth Observation in Africa”
  • Session 3: Pierre Jallow, Remode - “Unlocking Growth in Africa - Geospatial & Tech Business Opportunities in Emerging Markets”
  • Session 4: Takura Matswetu, Business Helsinki - “Situational Awareness & The Practicalities of Doing Business in Southern Africa” and Kiira Kärkkäinen, Business Finland - “Developing Markets Platform - Towards Sustainable and Competitive Innovations with a Complementary Funding Model”
  • Session 5: Ephraim Danford, Techno Environment Investment Company - “How Geospatial Data & Drones are Redefining Urban Development In Africa” and Tuomo Kauranne, Arbonaut - “Business in Africa - Arbonaut Examples”

Access all the info about the webinars on the Location Innovation Hub webpages: https://locationinnovationhub.eu/en/growthinafrica/

Jumanne Mtambalike presenting in the webinar series about Sahara Ventures and business opportunities for youth in Africa
Jumanne Mtambalike presenting in the webinar series about Sahara Ventures and business opportunities for youth in Africa
Nordic Business Expansion to Africa: A Practical Guide

The webinar insights were gathered as tips and best practices into one practical guide that offers actionable advice for Nordic SMEs and startups looking to explore African markets. While it focuses on technology and geospatial companies, the guidance is relevant for any business considering opportunities in Africa.

The guide covers topics such as:

  • finding the right local partners and building trust
  • identifying technology and business opportunities across Africa
  • navigating funding mechanisms, regulations, and data security
  • planning a successful market entry, including risk management and a step-by-step checklist.

Find the free-of-charge and downloadable PDF-guide on the Location Innovation Hub website: https://locationinnovationhub.eu/en/growthinafrica/

Practical guide for companies aiming to expand their business to Africa is freely available for downloading - click the image or link above that takes you to Location Innovation Hub website
3. Chat with a Pro

Chat with a Pro is a service package of LIH that offers a platform for companies/industry and researchers to exchange ideas and share expertise. LIH offers businesses and public sector organizations the opportunity to connect with the best researchers in the field. UTU is a partner in the Chat with a Pro service, and thus, our researchers in different geospatial and geo-thematic topics of expertise are a part of the service provision.

Link to Chat with a Pro LIH webpage: https://locationinnovationhub.eu/en/chat-with-a-pro/

 

4. Regional Innovation and Networking Events

In addition to research and development, UTU organises various regional events in Turku together with Lounaistieto community and the Regional Council of Southwest Finland to connect companies, public actors, and innovators. Through these activities, we support the creation of new location-based services, strengthen digital skills, and promote sustainable, data-driven growth.

Previous regional events: